MISC NOTES - KENTUCKY
.
February 3, 1916: "The Government has appropriated $300 more for building lookout stations in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Forester J.E. Barton said that several more lookouts will be established to guard against forest fires." (The Courier-Journal)
April 7, 1916: "Forest lookout stations are being constructed in Harlan and Bell counties and probably will be erected in Jackson by the State Forestry department." (The Courier-Journal)
May 5, 1916: "Forester Barton has just returned from Eastern Kentucky and said that forest lookout stations are being constructed in Harlan, Jackson, Letcher and Clay counties, so situated as to command a view of the mountains for miles around." (The Courier-Journal)
1916: "During 1916 two lookout stations were established in Eastern Kentucky. The other point on which a lookout station has been erected is at the junction of Letcher, Knott and Pike Counties. This was erected in conjunction with the Consolidated Coal Company. A lookout tower about 25 feet high was erected here and this tower has proved of very considerable service during the spring of 1917. It is equipped with a telephone." (The State Forester of Kentucky - Third Biennial Report - 1917)
March 30, 1917: "The Consolidation Coal Company is receiving from the State Forestry Department 50,000 young trees for setting on their vast holdings on Elkhorn Creek, this county. This company is the first to take active steps at reforesting. It has built several lookout stations in the mountains and connected them by telephone with the central station so that in the event of a forest fire instant warning can be given." (The Courier-Journal)
November 23, 1919: "The Consolidation Coal Company for two years has maintained lookout stations high up in the mountains around Jenkins and McRoberts, where they have 100,000 acres--about one tenth being in timber. 'Keepers' occupy these lookout stations during dry seasons, and, in the event of fire communicate by telephone with the central station." (The Courier-Journal)